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Evangelization is not easy, and because it isn't, many people don't do it. Veteran youth minister Andy Lesnefsky (a personal friend) decided to do much of the hard work for us by investing untold hours into creating this internet phenomenon called #ShareJesus this Lent.

Andy's plan was to get nationally recognizeable Catholic speakers and ask them to record a 2-3 minute video on a specific topic, upload it to him, and he would write a blog post per video to be posted each day during Lent. Here's how Andy describes the mission of RedeemedOnline.com:

Each day of Lent, beginning Ash Wednesday and running through Easter Sunday, you will get a 2-3 minute video emailed to you from a top Catholic speaker. Videos are based on the upcoming Sunday Gospel. They are created for sharing and discussion on social media giving you the ability to #ShareJesus within your social circles. Even if you are't on social media, you can share the videos via email.

Our hope is this project is one of the largest social media projects ever attempted in the Catholic Church and you can be part of it. Sign up now!

Church Life, SpiritualityMichael GormleyMarch 3, 2015Andy Lesnefsky, RedeemedOnline, ShareJesus

Sardis Speaks

“To the angel of the church in Sardis, write this: “The one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars says this: “I know your works, that you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.

Be watchful and strengthen what is left, which is going to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.

If this is what the Lord is saying to a church back then to a community of believers that actually saw or knew a guy who saw the Risen Lord, then I have nothing but trembling for myself and parishes today. What I am continually convicted of is that, as a church, as a professional church worker, and as a husband, father and man, we are not and I am not praying hard enough.

Church LifeMichael GormleyMarch 1, 2015Sardis Speaks

Convicting Words that I hope Convince You

I was listening to an evangelical preacher go off on church workers who are too busy for God, for prayer, for intimacy with Him. He gave an ultimatum at this conference for pastors: if you are too busy for prayer, quit. You shouldn't be in a ministry at all.

The moment a person stops praying, his ministry is self-glorifying. It begins to wither. Just leave now before you ruin it for everyone else. The Church has had enough scandals, we don't need any more false prophets. Thank you.

Church Life, PersonalMichael GormleyMarch 1, 2015

Is God Disappointed in You? (Part 01)

Enough talks deal out the facts, but do not challenge people to actually change. They aren't practical teachings, but technical. The information transfer itself is seen as good enough, and people are expected to change their lives because now they know the facts. I have grown to resent the lack of challenge and praxis in many of my own talks. After all, most people are not on a truth quest. Most people are on a happiness quest. But the Church keeps dishing factoids and expecting change to happen. Praxis, change, challenge- these things need to be woven into the very heart of a presentation, especially for those that are a part of a Parish Mission!

It is the heartfelt desire of every evangelist to get people to respond to God's call in their lives. The response to God is the key; not the hearing, but the doing. Response.

My last brainstorming session started with a single question: How are people responding to God's love? I came up with five basic responses to God that shape everything else in our lives. There is denial, avoidance, rejection, earning, and reception. Then I focused it on the three central responses and began to research each one, looking for the one way to tie it all together in a meaningful, personal and challenging way. Then I realized clearly what that was: dads.

Church Life, SpiritualityMichael GormleyJanuary 16, 2015Advent Mission, Avoidance, Disappointment, Earning, Reception, Rejection

Core Member Commitment

The Task of the Core Member within Small Group is not to be a teacher, but a facilitator. A facilitator is a leader who starts, guides and pushes the conversation and learning of others. This is primarily done through open-ended questions that do three things: help process a presentation, make new connections, and apply Christ’s truth to one’s own life.

The most basic requirement of a Life Teen Core Member is an adult who has received the love of Jesus Christ and is living his/her Catholic Faith daily. (Note that I did not say “perfectly” but “daily.”) This means that every Core Member is first a disciple of Jesus Christ. A disciple is one who follows Jesus Christ and not merely one who believes in Him. Believers hear, but don’t act. Jesus said that the wise person is one who “hears these words of mine and does them”. Jesus as extended an invitation through faith- “Come, follow me.” And it is by faith, hope and charity that we actually follow Jesus.

Church LifeMichael GormleySeptember 5, 2014Core Member, Life Teen, relationships, youth ministry

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